Gayatri Mantra – Arya Samaj South Africa

Ashwin and Veena Ragoobeer renewed their wedding vows at a workshop for students studying the Vivah Sanskar (Marriage ceremony) at the School of Vedic Studies of the Arya Samaj SA. Students benefited immensely as Dr B Rambilass took the couple through every step of the ceremony, explaining the rites very deliberately. The School of Vedic Studies has students in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone, Westville and Germany, and uses Skype to good advantage.

The proverb, hands that help are holier than lips that pray, came to life when the Arya Samaj SA refurbished a cottage at the Lakehaven Child and Youth Care Centre. Shehnaaz Gabru, Senior Manager Residential Services at Lakehaven, said the refurbishment of the bathroom and cupboards really lifted the spirits of the children. Some girls, not yet thirteen, really want to move to this cottage because of the new bathroom.

With reduced funding from the state, all non-governmental organisations are going through very tough times. Dr Rambilass likened the early history of the impoverished cane cutters who had to stick together to support each other, to the present situation facing NGO’s. Although the Arya Samaj SA is not cash flush, it makes up for this in the passion and commitment of its members. Kind hearted donors often heed the call of the Samaj to contribute in cash and kind whenever there is a pressing need to fund a worthy project, be it a school feeding scheme, installing boreholes, providing diapers for the ABH, flood relief, prison ministering, etc.

Arya Samaj SA strives to live my its motto – Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam – Make the whole world noble! ... See more

Roshiela Benimadho-Bhogal, a long standing member of the Avoca Cultural Society, presented an interesting view on Shakti power, the power of the Great Feminine which moves everything in the universe, at its Women’s Day satsang. Women are an embodiment of this Shakti power. Throughout history, strong women have emerged to lead the way – Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Jane Austen and Rani of Jhansi. More recently, Malala Yousafzai emerged as a fearless champion for the education of girls, even after being shot in the head by the Taliban.

Shakti is the maternal principle – the provider, abundance. In the human as well as in the animal kingdom the mother offers nourishment, warmth and security. In the movie, Mother India, we see a heart wrenching scene of the mother scraping the last few grains of rice to feed her children, with nothing left for her. Yet, despite this Great Feminine power, things stay the same. Women have borne the brunt of an entrenched patriarchal system and subordination in society. There are far too many cases of gender-based violence, genital mutilation due to religious and cultural traditions, child marriages and discrimination of gays and lesbians, etc.

All is not hopeless though, as more women are succeeding in the workplace, often seen as a place dominated by masculine principles. The ideal worker is seen as strong and dominating, technically competent, career focused, smart and attractive. Women are embracing the very masculine energy of the workplace and excelling.

Charles Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives but the most adaptable.” Women have been hardwired to be adaptable, probably as they will have to marry and leave home one day to set up their own.

The Arya Samaj is a reformist movement which has been at the forefront of women’s emancipation, by promoting education, re-marriage of widows and allowing women to enter the priesthood. #womensmonth#aryasamajsa ... See more